第20章

Gideon Spilett was standing motionless on the shore, his arms crossed, gazing over the sea, the horizon of which was lost towards the east in a thick black cloud which was spreading rapidly towards the zenith.The wind was already strong, and increased with the decline of day.The whole sky was of a threatening aspect, and the first symptoms of a violent storm were clearly visible.

Herbert entered the Chimneys, and Pencroft went towards the reporter.The latter, deeply absorbed, did not see him approach.

"We are going to have a dirty night, Mr.Spilett!" said the sailor:

"Petrels delight in wind and rain."

The reporter, turning at the moment, saw Pencroft, and his first words were,--"At what distance from the coast would you say the car was, when the waves carried off our companion?"The sailor had not expected this question.He reflected an instant and replied,--"Two cables lengths at the most."

"But what is a cable's length?" asked Gideon Spilett.

"About a hundred and twenty fathoms, or six hundred feet.""Then," said the reporter, "Cyrus Harding must have disappeared twelve hundred feet at the most from the shore?""About that," replied Pencroft.

"And his dog also?"

"Also."

"What astonishes me," rejoined the reporter, "while admitting that our companion has perished, is that Top has also met his death, and that neither the body of the dog nor of his master has been cast on the shore!""It is not astonishing, with such a heavy sea," replied the sailor.

"Besides, it is possible that currents have carried them farther down the coast.""Then, it is your opinion that our friend has perished in the waves?"again asked the reporter.

"That is my opinion."

"My own opinion," said Gideon Spilett, "with due deference to your experience, Pencroft, is that in the double fact of the absolute disappearance of Cyrus and Top, living or dead, there is something unaccountable and unlikely.""I wish I could think like you, Mr.Spilett," replied Pencroft;"unhappily, my mind is made up on this point." Having said this, the sailor returned to the Chimneys.A good fire crackled on the hearth.Herbert had just thrown on an armful of dry wood, and the flame cast a bright light into the darkest parts of the passage.

Pencroft immediately began to prepare the dinner.It appeared best to introduce something solid into the bill of fare, for all needed to get up their strength.The strings of couroucous were kept for the next day, but they plucked a couple of grouse, which were soon spitted on a stick, and roasting before a blazing fire.

At seven in the evening Neb had not returned.The prolonged absence of the Negro made Pencroft very uneasy.It was to be feared that he had met with an accident on this unknown land, or that the unhappy fellow had been driven to some act of despair.But Herbert drew very different conclusions from this absence.According to him, Neb's delay was caused by some new circumstances which had induced him to prolong his search.Also, everything new must be to the advantage of Cyrus Harding.Why had Neb not returned unless hope still detained him? Perhaps he had found some mark, a footstep, a trace which had put him in the right path.Perhaps he was at this moment on a certain track.Perhaps even he was near his master.

Thus the lad reasoned.Thus he spoke.His companions let him talk.The reporter alone approved with a gesture.But what Pencroft thought most probable was, that Neb had pushed his researches on the shore farther than the day before, and that he had not as yet had time to return.

Herbert, however, agitated by vague presentiments, several times manifested an intention to go to meet Neb.But Pencroft assured him that that would be a useless course, that in the darkness and deplorable weather he could not find any traces of Neb, and that it would be much better to wait.If Neb had not made his appearance by the next day, Pencroft would not hesitate to join him in his search.

Gideon Spilett approved of the sailor's opinion that it was best not to divide, and Herbert was obliged to give up his project; but two large tears fell from his eyes.

The reporter could not refrain from embracing the generous boy.

Bad weather now set in.A furious gale from the southeast passed over the coast.The sea roared as it beat over the reef.Heavy rain was dashed by the storm into particles like dust.Ragged masses of vapor drove along the beach, on which the tormented shingles sounded as if poured out in cart-loads, while the sand raised by the wind added as it were mineral dust to that which was liquid, and rendered the united attack insupportable.

Between the river's mouth and the end of the cliff, eddies of wind whirled and gusts from this maelstrom lashed the water which ran through the narrow valley.The smoke from the fireplace was also driven back through the opening, filling the passages and rendering them uninhabitable.

Therefore, as the grouse were cooked, Pencroft let the fire die away, and only preserved a few embers buried under the ashes.

At eight o'clock Neb had not appeared, but there was no doubt that the frightful weather alone hindered his return, and that he must have taken refuge in some cave, to await the end of the storm or at least the return of day.As to going to meet him, or attempting to find him, it was impossible.

The game constituted the only dish at supper; the meat was excellent, and Pencroft and Herbert, whose long excursion had rendered them very hungry, devoured it with infinite satisfaction.

Their meal concluded, each retired to the corner in which he had rested the preceding night, and Herbert was not long in going to sleep near the sailor, who had stretched himself beside the fireplace.